Melbourne-based Anouk Ely is a 23-year-old singer-songwriter whose music combines delicate acoustic textures with heartfelt lyricism.
Drawing inspiration from her Japanese heritage and artists such as Bon Iver, Beabadoobee and Elliott Smith, Ely – who teaches choir and gives singing lessons when she's not performing – recently released her debut album '433'.
"I hope this soft, acoustic music finds you in the corner of a bookstore, I hope you have warm coffee and pleasant conversations filled with accurate compliments.
"I pray for dreams that leave you rested in-between the lyrics I poured my soul into. For you, forever ago. Love Anouk."
Who is... My name is Anouk Ely. I have been writing music all my life with my dad, Ben Ely, and little sister, Dee Dee Ely. In my childhood home, songwriting was the same as breathing.
I sound like... I hope I sound similar to artists like Beabadoobee, Bon Iver, Sally Seltmann and First Aid Kit. I get a lot of inspiration from these artists.
My first gig was... The earliest gig I can remember was at the QAG in Brisbane when I was 12. Dee Dee, Ben, and I wrote a play, and I performed as a fairy with a guitar in hand and singing a song I'd written about being a magical girl.
After the show, a little girl, maybe four years old, came up to me and asked if I was really a fairy, insisting that I "had to be honest with her". Even now, at 23, that moment has stayed with me.
In the studio I usually... Find the most awkward ways to sit on a couch while anxiously strumming along with my producer, Seth, who is unendingly patient and kind while I complain about my voice never 'sounding right'. During breaks, I always get a tofu banh mi, which I always manage to inhale at an alarming rate.
If I could tour with anyone... It'd probably be my dad's band Regurgitator or DZ Deathrays because I know they're lovely, down to earth people whose music I ADORE.
Not at all like the music I write, but I kind of enjoy that because my music is so melancholy, I definitely need some hype in my life.
Social media is... Fun although I'm terrible at using it properly. I usually doom scroll and don't put out enough of my own music content.
My favourite app at the moment... Is Instagram. This is because I grew up on it and enjoy stalking my friends.
To date, my most embarrassing moment was the time... I got on a table in a club in Korea to dance (which I did with zero coordination or grace) and then it broke underneath me due to my terrible moves or karma for ever being that confident.
Life on the road can be... Really exhausting. I have a cat named Kiji that roughly translates to 'fat bird' (because she is in fact a fatty boombah) and whenever I'm gone too long I miss her so much my chest hurts.
If you'll have me on your bill, all I ask is that the rider contains... My dream rider would contain sangria, any vegan snacks (Up & Go, chippies, Pana chocolate) and kewpie mayonnaise.
What celebrity/ famous person would you love to be spokesperson of the band... The artist I look up to the most and have been the most inspired by is Bon Iver. I saw him play once and it was just beautiful. Someone like him or Joji would be awesome.
If you had to live in a city abroad, where would you choose and why? I'm half-Japanese and go to Japan once every year, but have never been able to live there long-term. I would love to move there with my cat at some point and live there for awhile.
Three people you'd like to invite around for a dinner party... The entire 'Vampire Diaries' cast. I LOVE vampires. Anything vampires related I am there. I would find a way to make out with Caroline and Damon at the same time.
Also Inio Asano; he's the writer of my favourite manga 'Oyasumi Punpun', which resonated with me and felt understood me in a strange way. His writing is incredibly dark and inspired my song 'Oyasumi', on my recent album.
If we were coming over to your place, what would you cook us? I make fantastic vegan friend chicken poke bowls using enoki mushrooms, edamame, sushi rice, pickles and kewpie mayonnaise.
When it comes to pets are you a lover or hater of our furry friends? In my spare time I have fostered rabbits and kittens, which I adore. As I grew up, my dog named Micheal was legit Hairy Maclary from Donaldson's Dairy.
The last time I saw the inside of a gym was... I try to go to the gym every day, but since breaking my ankle in June this year I instead regularly go to the pool with my best friend Meg. We play mermaids and gossip while somewhat swimming laps.
What's the one chore you dislike the most? I hate putting away the dishes because I so often forget where they're meant to live.
Do you have any phobias... When I was 19 I tried to remove the seed of an avocado using a knife. I stabbed through the avocado and straight through my hand. It didn't hurt too bad, but the vision of my hand being split made me pass out.
My friend Izzy had to pick me off the floor, wipe up the blood and take me to bed. It ended up healing, but ever since then I have had a terrible fear of cutting my hand and faint at even the thought.
Would you ever partake in a reality show? I auditioned for 'Love Island Australia' and got pretty far into the process, but didn't end up wanting to pursue it due to the way it made me feel about my body.
If you could prank any of your friends, who's your target, and how are you bringing them down? Take one of my friends vape and sit on it and watch as they tear their house apart looking for it.
Best local takeaway joint for a midnight feed that will leave you with a food coma? During that time of the month I used to get KFC, but since going vegan I generally get Lord Of The Fries' classic burger and chippies.
Which fictional character best describes your personality? Bernard Black from 'Black Books' with a combination of Jessica Day from 'New Girl'; can't explain how that works but it does.
Last show you binge-watched? I'm watching the new season of 'Smiling Friends', which is insane and makes me laugh so hard I can’t breathe.
